Lint-removing device



Aug. 22, 1967 D. A. MARTIN Q 3,336,616

LINTREMOVING DEVICE Filed Feb. 25, 1966 INVENTOR. DAVID A. MARTINATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,336,616 LINT-REMOVING DEVICE David A.Martin, 2375 Colgate Drive, Costa Mesa, Calif. 92626 Filed Feb. 23,1966, Ser. No. 529,451 8 Claims. (Cl. 104) The present inventiongenerally relates to cleaning devices and more particularly relates to aportable cleaning device adapted to remove loose particles such as lint,dust and the like from surfaces such as those of clothing, wearingapparel, furnilture and the like.

Conventional types of devices for personal grooming include brushesfabricated of animal hair or synthetic plastic bristles or the like ofsubstantial length, brushes having sponge rubber or plastic cleaningsurfaces and similar articles developed to remove small particles ofdust, tobacco, etc., from wearing apparel in order to freshen theappearance thereof and to clean the same. However, conventional brushesfabricated in the previously indicated manner are'usually relativelybulky, inconvenient to carry on the person, expensive and relativelyinefiicient, particularly in removing tenaciously adhering particlessuch as human hair, lint or the like from clothmg.

Further-more, during use of such conventional articles, the particleswhich have been removed from the clothing or the like during thebrushing operation tend to accumulate in the brush bristles, on thebrushing surfaces and the like so that they are likely to be transferredback to the clothing during a subsequent brushing operation, therebyreducing the effectiveness of that operation. Moreover, when brushing iscarried out using a bristle brush, and suflicient force is applied toremove tenaciously adhering particles from the clothing, there is atendency for the bristles to impart considerable wear to the clothingand, in the case of clothing fabricated of relatively fragile or easilyfrayable materials, such as certain types of rayon and the like, it isinadvisable to brush the same with a bristle brush. Sponge rubberbrushes are subject to the same deficiencies. Moreover, they tend tocrumble upon continued use and to build up a layer of undesired rubberparticles on the clothing. Moreover, they are usually difiicult to use,since they usually require considerable force in order to pass them overa surface of clothing in contact therewith.

Accordingly, it is the principal object of the present invention toprovide an improved portable cleaning device.

It is a furtherobject of the present invention to provide aninexpensive, lightweight, compact and durable cleaning deviceparticularly adapted for removing tenaciously adhering particles fromwearing apparel and the like.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an improvedinexpensive portable lint remover capable of maintaining high efiiciencyin the removal of tenaciously adhering particles such as lint and thelike from the surface of wearing apparel and the like.

The foregoing and other objects are accomplished in accordance with thepresent invention by providing an improved portable cleaning devicecapable of efiiciently removing lint, dust and other tenacously adheringparticles from various types of surfaces such as those of wearingapparel, cloth covered furnitureand the like. The device comprises acurved, preferably resilient plate, upon one surface which is disposedparticle-removing means comprising a sheet of extended surface areabearing on one side thereof, means comprising extremely short fibers,such as cellulosic fibers, rayon fibers and the like and a tacky film towhich the fibers adhere. The sheet has a non-setting adhesive surfaceon' the opposite side thereof, which surface releasably bonds the sheetto the adjacent surface of the plate. The opposite surface of the plateis provided with improved handle means comprising a pair of spaced wingshingedly connected to the plate and adapted to move between a positionadjacent the plate and a handle-forming position generally perpendicularto the plate. When the wings are adjacent the plate, they are releasablymaintained in that position by suitable means so that the device isrelativelyflat, compact, and highly portable. The wings can be releasedeasily from that position and moved readily into the describedhandle-forming position. Means are provided on the wings to releasablylock the wings to each other, and means are also provided which form asuitable fingergrip for the handle so the device. Further objects andadvantages of the present invention will be apparent from a study of thefollowing detailed description and the accompanying drawings of which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the cleaningdevice of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a bottom plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, showing aportion of the particle-removing means stripped from the remainder ofthe device;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevation of the device of FIG.

- 1 with the handle-forming means in the generally flat,

releasably locked position;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the device of FIG. 1 with thehandle-forming means in the flat, releasably locked position;

' FIGURE 5 is a front elevation of the device of FIG. 1 with thehandle-forming means partially raised;

FIGURE 6 is a front elevation of the device of FIG. 1 with thehandle-forming means releasably locked together to form the handle ofthe device;

FIGURE 7 is a side elevation of the device of FIG. 1 with thehandle-forming means in the handle-forming position; and,

FIGURE 8 is a top plan view of the device of FIG. 1 with thehandle-forming means in the handle-forming position.

Now referring more particularly 'to FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings,a preferred embodiment of the cleaning device 10 of the presentinvention is illustrated in schematic perspective view. The device 10includes a plate 12 upon the bottom surface 13 of which is disposed itcould be square, ovoid, circular particle-removing means 14 and on theopposite surface 15 of which is disposed a pair of handle-forming wings16.

The plate 12 is preferably slightly curved as shown in FIG. 1 in orderto facilitate the use of the particle-removing means 14 in the cleaningoperation. However, it will be understood that, if desired, the plate 12could be flat. Moeover, the plate 12 is generally rectangular, althoughor of any other configuration to facilitate the cleaning operation.Usually, the plate 12 is relatively small, making it highly portable.However, despite its usually small size, for example about 3 X 2%inches, the plate 12 has leasable disposition of a sufiiciently largeparticle-removing means 14 to permit continued use of theparticleremoving means 14 for a considerable period of time beforereplacement thereof.

The plate 12 can be fabricated of any suitable material,

but preferably is of a plastic material which has a high e type ofpalstic to use. High fatigue point, is strong and is somewhat resilient.The plate 12, of course, should be inexpensive and easy to fabricate.For such purposes, it has been found that polypropylene syntheticthermoplastic material is a preferred density polyethylene can also beused, as well as polyallomer or any other orienas to improve the ease ofuse of' suflicient area for retated type of plastic having the desiredcharacteristic of dimensional stability, strength, low cost, lightweight, ease of fabrication and attractive appearance.

Preferably, the plate 12 is injection molded or extruded ofthermoplastic material to the desired configuration, for high productionand economy. However, it can be fabricated in any other suitable manner.In this regard, it is preferred that the wings 16 be integral with theplate, as shown in FIGS. 3, and 6, along with other components of thedevice 10, except the particle-removing means 14. If integral with andformed at the same time as the plate 12, the wings 16 should befabricated, as previously indicated, of high fatigue resistant materialso that during bending of the Wings 16 between the positions illustratedin FIGS. 3 and 6, the junction points 18 (shown in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6)between the wings 16 and the plate 12 do not crack through and causeseparation of the wings 16 from the plate 12.

The wings 16 comprise a pair of spaced-apart plates 19 which preferablyare thinner adjacent the junction points 18 so as to facilitate themovement of the wings 16 between the positions illustrated in FIGS. 3and 6. The wings 16 are generally rectangular in shape and of size so asgenerally conform to the configuration of the plate 12 and also allowsufiicient handle-forming surface area. For example, with a plate 12 ofoverall dimensions of about 2% x 3 inches, each wing 16 may be, forexample, about 2% x 1 inches. On the surfaces of the wings 16 which faceeach other (when the wings are in the handle-forming position shown inFIG. 6) there is provided a plurality of mating ridges 20, best seen inFIGS. 5 and 6. The ridges 20 may be of any suitable configuration andare present for the purpose of releasably locking the wings together, asshown in FIG. 6, to form a handle 21 therefrom, and to prevent the wings16 from slipping past one another when the handle 21 is used tomanipulate the device 10. The wings are also preferably provided with aplurality of ridges 22 on their opposite surfaces, which ridges 22 actas finger-gripping means for the handle 21. It will be understood thatany other type of configuration which effects a finger-gripping functioncan be used in place of the ridges 22, for example, dots, irregularsurfaces, etc. This is also true of the releasably locking ridges 20.

It will be also understood that the wings 18 generally are symmetricallydisposed with respect to the central axis of the plate 12, so that whenthe handle is formed, as shown in FIG. 6, usually it is approximatelycentered on the upper surface 15 of the plate 12 for maximumeffectiveness. The wings 16 preferably do not extend beyond theperiphery of the plate 12 in any direction and may be somewhat smallerin dimensions, if desired, as indicated in FIG. 4. The wings 16 should,however, have sufficient height to form the handle 21 of sufficient sizeto facilitate handling and use of the device 10.

The wings 16 are releasably locked in a relatively flat positionadjacent the upper surface 15 of the plate 12, as shown in FIG. 3,through the use of any suitable locking means, for example, at least onelocking button 24 on each of the two opposite sides 26 of the plate 12which adjoin the top surfaces of the wings 16 when the Wings 16 are inthe position illustrated in FIG. 3. However, it will be understood thatany suitable number of the locking buttons 24 can be used. Preferably,raised rims 30 are provided on the sides 26 with the buttons 24 disposedadjacent the upper surface thereof, so that a space 32 is provided, asshown in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6, between each button 24 and the adjoiningsurface of the plate 12, for the purpose of releasably receiving the topsurface 28 of a wing 16. The height of each wing 16 is adjusted withrespect to the position of the locking buttons 24 so that the wing 16can be readily passed down into the space 32 and is releasably held inposition under the button 24. It is preferred that the buttons 24 and/or the plate 12 and/ or the wings 16 be resilient to facilitate thisreleasable locking.

When it is desired to release the wings 16, as shown in FIG. 5, from thelocked position, the plate 12 can be grasped between the thumb andsecond and/ or third finger of the hand and can be slightly bent into aless curved configuration, thus permitting the wings 16 to spring uppast the locking buttons 24. Any other suitable technique can also beused to release the wings 16 from the fiat locked position of FIG. 3.The purpose of that position is to make the device 10 as compact aspossible, so that it can be easily carried in a pocket, purse, etc. Thewings 16 are released from the locked position, shown in FIG. 3, inorder to form the handle 21. The wings 16 can be easily moved into thehandle-forming position shown in FIG. 6, since they hingedly connect tothe plate 12 at points 18. Once the wings 1-6 are placed in thehandle-forming position, the ridges 20 tend to hold the wings 16 in thathandleforming position, as shown in FIG. 6. As previously indicated, theopposite surfaces of the plates 19 are provided with the ridges 22, asshown in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6, to facilitate gripping of the handle 21during use of the device 10 for removing lint and the like fromclothing. The plate 12 can be provided, if desired, with one or morerims 34 extending from the surface 13 thereof, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 5and 6, to facilitate alignment of the particle-removing means 14 on thesurface 13. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3, 5 and 6, therims 34 are disposed on the sides 26 of the plate 12.

The particle-removing means 14 includes a sheet 36 of extended surfacearea, that is, an area approximately equal to that of the surface 13 ofthe plate 12, on one side of which are disposed a tacky film 38 and aplurality of short fibers 40.

The sheet 36 can comprise, for example, paper, plastic film or the likethin, inexpensive material. In one embodiment, the sheet 36 comprisespaper which has been treated to reduce its absorption of adhesives andthe like. For example, such paper can comprise filled paper, calendaredpaper, lacquered paper, etc. The side 42 of the sheet 36 is releasablyattached to the surface 13 of the plate 12, as by a suitable non-settingadhesive, for example, natural or synthetic rubber base adhesive,acrylic base adhesive or the like. If desired, the opposite side 44 ofthe sheet 36, i.e, the side to which the tacky film 38 and fibers 40 areattached, can be of suitable plastic film such as polyethylene,polyvinyl chloride or the like. The tacky film 38 may be of a suitablenon-setting adhesive, such as that described for the adhesive betweenthe side 42 and the plate 12.

The fibers 40 comprise short, thin, relatively stiff fibers, such asrayon or other 'cellulosic fibers, nylon fibers, etc., suitable forremoving lint and the like from clothing and the like. Preferably, suchfibers are very short, for example, inch and are preferably grouped in aplurality of parallel raised ridges 46, as shown in FIGS. 1-3 and 5-7 ofthe drawings, with spaces therebetween. The ridges may be, for example,about 7 inch wide, with about inch spaces therebetween. Other suitablearrangement of the fibers 40 are also contemplated. The fibers 40 can bedisposed in any manner, preferably by flocking thereonelectrostatically, after dressing the side 44 with the tacky film 38 ofadhesive material. A final treatment of the flocked fibers 40 ispreferably carried out to control the adhesivity of the finishedlint-removing surface 41 represented by the fibers 40 and film 38. Thus,the surface 41 can be lightly dressed with, for example, a thinpenetrating coating of acrylic base adhesive or the like.

When the device 10 is to be used, the wings 16 are released from thelocked position shown in FIG. 3 and moved into the position shown inFIG. 6, as previously described. The handle 21 is then gripped betweenthe thumb and one or more fingers of the same hand, and the cleaningoperation is accomplished by sliding the surface 41 along the surface ofthe clothing, etc., to be cleaned, preferably using short, rapidbrushing strokes. When the short fibers 40 are disposed in parallellines, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, it ispreferred to guide brush strokes in a direction perpendicular to theaxis of the parallel lines of short fibers for maximum effectiveness.Accordingly, the device is relatively easy to use, is simple, compact,durable and inexpensive.

The finished fiber-removing surface 41 of the device 10 is slightlytacky and is able to perform its lint-removing function in a highlyeflicient manner. Since the ridges 46 of short fibers extend a shortdistance, for example, about inch, beyond the remainder of the surface41, such ridges facilitate the lint-lifting action provided duringbrushing by the very short fibers 40 by simulating a plurality of minutebrushes having extremely short fibers so that lint and other tenaciouslyadhering particles on clothing and the like can be easily lifted fromthe clothing, etc. Moreover, since both the fibers 40 and the film 38are at least slightly tacky, particles which have been loosened duringbrushing by means of the short fibers 40 tend to adhere to thelint-removing surface 41 of the device 10. Furthermore, during brushing,a small amount of electrostatic attraction is provided by the fibers 40so that in some instances particles of dust, etc, of opposite charge areattratced to and held by the lint-removing surface 41 of the device 10.Accordingly, the lint-removing surface 41 not only causes a brushing up,loosening and attachment of the lint by physical contact with the shortfibers but also adhesively removes the lint and in some instanceselectrostatically attracts the same. The net effect is a highlyefiicient device for removing surface and also more deeply lying dust,dirt, hair, dandruff, lint, foreign particles and the like from wearingapparel, upholstery, etc., so as to substantially clean and improve theappearance thereof without damaging or wearing out the fabric.

As illustrated schematically in FIG. 2 of the accompanying drawings,when the lint-removing surface 41 becomes soiled, the sheet 36 can bereadily stripped from the plate 12, as shown in FIG. 2, and a new sheetof similar construction can be substituted therefor, containing thetacky film 38 and fibers 40 on one side and tacky adhesive on theopposite side for releasably joining the sheet to the surface 13 of theplate 12. Accordingly, the efiiciency of removal of lint and otherparticles from wearing apparel by the device 10 can be maintained atabout optimal by periodic renewal of the particle-removing means 14 ofthe device.

Accordingly, an improved, efiicient, portable lint-removing device isprovided which is simple, inexpensive and easy to use. It can be madesmall enough to be carried flat in a purse, pocket or the like and iseffective for removing surface and deeper lying lint, dust, etc., fromfabric such as wearing apparel, upholstery and the like without in anyway harming, causing any appreciable wear or otherwise adverselyaffecting such surfaces. Since the lint-removing surface of the devicecan be rapidly, inexpensively and readily renewed, the device can bekept at about a maximum of efiiciency at all times. The device can beused with equal facility by either hand and allows the remaining hand tobe free to hold the article to be cleaned or to otherwise guide orassist in the cleaning operation. Further advantages of the inventionare as set forth in the foregoing.

Various other embodiments of the device 10 can be consrtucted inaccordance with the invention. Moreover, the components of the device 10can be fabricated from one or a plurality of suitable materials. It willbe obvious that device 10 can be varied in size, shape and the manner inwhich the components thereof are joined together and cooperate. Suchvariations in the device 10, its components, their construction and themethod of fabrication of the device 10 as are within the scope of thefollowing appended claims form a part of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A portable lint-removing device, which device comprises, incombination, a curved plate, a pair of handleforming wings pivotallyconnected in spaced relation to one surface of said plate and adapted tomove between a nested position adjacent said plate and a handle-formingposition approximately perpendicular to said plate, andparticle-removing means releasably disposed adjacent the oppositesurface of said plate, comprising a tacky film and a plurality of shortfibers adhering to said film, wherein the plate is resilient, whereinsaid tacky film is of extended surface area and wherein saidparticle-removing means also includes a sheet of extended surface areareleasably secured to the adjacent surface of said plate, the sheetbearing on the outwardly facing side thereof said tacky film and saidfibers.

2. The portable lint-removing device of claim 1 wherein said tacky filmcomprises non-setting adhesive disposed directly on said one side ofsaid sheet and wherein said short fibers are embedded in and disposed onsaid tacky film in a manner such that said film remains slightly tacky.

3. The portable cleaning device of claim 1 wherein a tacky non-settingadhesive is disposed on the side of said sheet adjacent said curvedplate and wherein a plastic film is releasably disposed on the oppositeside of said sheet, which film bears said tacky film and short fibers.

4. The portable cleaning device of claim 1 wherein the plurality offibers has been flocked on said tacky film in a plurality of generallyparallel low ridges, whereby the efliciency of the particle-removingmeans is increased.

5. The portable lint-removing device of claim 4 wherein the plate andwings are integral with one another and comprise synthetic plasticmaterial, and wherein releasable locking means are provided on twoopposite sides of said curved plate adjacent each of said wings toreleasably lock said wings in said position adjacent said plate.

6. The portable lint-removing device of claim 5 wherein adajacentsurfaces of said wings are provided with a plurality of mating ridgeswhich releasably lock said wings in said handle-forming position andwherein the opposite surfaces of said wings are provided withfinger-gripping means.

7. The portable lint-removing device of claim 6 wherein saidfinger-gripping means comprises a plurality of generally parallel ridgesand wherein said releasable locking means comprises flexible buttonsextending toward each other from said two opposite sides of said plateand wherein said two opposite sides of said plate include raised 111118.

8. The portable cleaning device of claim 7 wherein said plate, wings,buttons, finger-grips and releasable locking means are integral and areinjection molded polypropylene, wherein said sheet comprises papertreated to reduce penetration of adhesive but compatible therewith,wherein said non-setting adhesive comprises rubber base adhesive andwherein said short fibers comprise rayon fibers electrostaticallyflocked on said tacky film, each of said fibers having a length of aboutinch.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,528,602 11/1950 Magit.

2,542,774 2/1951 Hutchinson 15l04 2,693,610 11/19'54 Hensley 15l042,724,847 11/1955 Krasno 15l04 3,103,029 9/1963 Valles 15-l04 3,131,4105/1964 Anderson et al 15143 X 3,142,855 8/1964 Gilchrist 15210 CHARLESA. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner. D. BLUM, Examiner.

1. A PORTABLE LINT-REMOVING DEVICE, WHICH DEVICE COMPRISES INCOMBINATION, A CURVED PLATE, A PAIR OF HANDLEFORMING WINGS PIVOTALLYCONNECTED IN SPACED RELATION TO ONE SURFACE OF SAID PLATE AND ADAPTED TOMOVE BETWEEN A NESTED POSITION ADJACENT SAID PLATE AND A HANDLE-FORMINGPOSITION APPROXIMATELY PERPENDICULAR TO SAID PLATE, ANDPARTICLE-REMOVING MEANS RELEASABLY DISPOSED ADJACENT THE OPPOSITESURFACE OF SAID PLATE, COMPRISING A TACKY FILM AND A PLURALITY OF SHORTFIBERS ADHERING TO SAID FILM, WHEREIN THE PLATE IS RESILIENT, WHEREINSAID TACKY FILM IS OF EXTENDED SURFACE AREA AND WHEREIN SAIDPARTICLE-REMOVING MEANS ALSO INCLUDES A SHEET OF EXTENDED SURFACE AREARELEASABLY SECURED TO THE ADJACENT SURFACE OF SAID PLATE, THE SHEETBEARING THE OUTWARDLY FACING SIDE THEREOF SAID TACKY FILM AND SAIDFIBERS.